PART 10- Abbot Mortimer's Final Words
Matthias spent most of the next week with Abbot Mortimer. To everybeasts delight, the good Abbot was still with them by the end of the week. He was bedridden, but was never without visitors.
In the evening nine days after father Abbot fell ill, Matthias sounded the emergency tolls on the Matthias and Methuselah bells. The entire abbey gathered in Cavern Hole, wondering what was going on.
"What's going on?"
"Is it more rats?"
"Hurr, what be a-goin on yurr?"
The loud, clear voice of Constance made everybeast present hush immediately. "The father abbot has asked that all of you be present to hear his last words. Please be respectful to him."
"Thank you, Constance. Friends, I trust that you all will keep this abbey running well, even after I am gone. What you need is a leader. Brother Alf, would you please come forward?"
The brother walked forward and knelt next to Mortimer. "Yes, father?"
"When I have left, you will take my place as Father of this abbey. You are very wise, and will fit the part well."
"Of course, father abbot."
"Good. Now Matthias and Cornflower, please come forward."
They walked up and stood by him.
"Matthias, I recall telling you that you have the option of marrying, unlike other abbey members. I wish to retract that comment. When two mice such as yourselves are in love, you should be together."
Both mice stared at him, their mouths hanging slightly open. "Father?" Matthias said, breathless with joy.
"You are in love with her, are you not?"
Matthias nodded in response.
"And you, Cornflower, you think of him as more then a friend, don't you?"
She nodded as well, blushing slightly.
"Then that is how it should be." He took a deep breath before finishing. "Friends, I am going on to better places. Don't be sad for an old mouse like me. I would hate to think I am laving you all depressed. We will re-unite some day."
Abbot Mortimer took one last breath, closed his eyes, and fell asleep for the last time.
Cornflower let out a soft sob, and that seemed to trigger everybeasts tears. Matthias pulled Cornflower into a hug and let her cry into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her shaking form and cried with her.
*******
That evening, every member of the abbey gathered with the surrounding woodland residents for the final resting ceremony of Abbot Mortimer. There wasn't one beast present that didn't cry. As they left, the soft voice of Sister Serena could be heard, singing in tribute to the deceased abbot.
So denied, so I lied, Are you the now or never kind? In a day, and a day love, I'm gonna be gone for good again. Are you willing to be had? Are you cool with just tonight?
Here's a toast, to all those who hear me all to well.
Here's to the night we felt alive, Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry, Here's to goodbye tomorrows gonna come too soon.
Put your name on the line, Along with place and time. Wanna stay, not to go I wanna ditch the logical,
All my time just folds in motion Can't I stay an hour or two or more? Don't let me let you go.
Don't let me let you go.
Here's a toast, to all those who hear me all too well.
Here's to the night we felt alive, Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry, Here's to goodbye tomorrows gonna come too soon.
A/N: Hi!!! I'm only doing this A/N thingy to apologize in advance for my crap mole speech. I know it's horrible. That's why there are only about two lines of it throughout the whole story. Heehee!
Matthias spent most of the next week with Abbot Mortimer. To everybeasts delight, the good Abbot was still with them by the end of the week. He was bedridden, but was never without visitors.
In the evening nine days after father Abbot fell ill, Matthias sounded the emergency tolls on the Matthias and Methuselah bells. The entire abbey gathered in Cavern Hole, wondering what was going on.
"What's going on?"
"Is it more rats?"
"Hurr, what be a-goin on yurr?"
The loud, clear voice of Constance made everybeast present hush immediately. "The father abbot has asked that all of you be present to hear his last words. Please be respectful to him."
"Thank you, Constance. Friends, I trust that you all will keep this abbey running well, even after I am gone. What you need is a leader. Brother Alf, would you please come forward?"
The brother walked forward and knelt next to Mortimer. "Yes, father?"
"When I have left, you will take my place as Father of this abbey. You are very wise, and will fit the part well."
"Of course, father abbot."
"Good. Now Matthias and Cornflower, please come forward."
They walked up and stood by him.
"Matthias, I recall telling you that you have the option of marrying, unlike other abbey members. I wish to retract that comment. When two mice such as yourselves are in love, you should be together."
Both mice stared at him, their mouths hanging slightly open. "Father?" Matthias said, breathless with joy.
"You are in love with her, are you not?"
Matthias nodded in response.
"And you, Cornflower, you think of him as more then a friend, don't you?"
She nodded as well, blushing slightly.
"Then that is how it should be." He took a deep breath before finishing. "Friends, I am going on to better places. Don't be sad for an old mouse like me. I would hate to think I am laving you all depressed. We will re-unite some day."
Abbot Mortimer took one last breath, closed his eyes, and fell asleep for the last time.
Cornflower let out a soft sob, and that seemed to trigger everybeasts tears. Matthias pulled Cornflower into a hug and let her cry into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her shaking form and cried with her.
*******
That evening, every member of the abbey gathered with the surrounding woodland residents for the final resting ceremony of Abbot Mortimer. There wasn't one beast present that didn't cry. As they left, the soft voice of Sister Serena could be heard, singing in tribute to the deceased abbot.
So denied, so I lied, Are you the now or never kind? In a day, and a day love, I'm gonna be gone for good again. Are you willing to be had? Are you cool with just tonight?
Here's a toast, to all those who hear me all to well.
Here's to the night we felt alive, Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry, Here's to goodbye tomorrows gonna come too soon.
Put your name on the line, Along with place and time. Wanna stay, not to go I wanna ditch the logical,
All my time just folds in motion Can't I stay an hour or two or more? Don't let me let you go.
Don't let me let you go.
Here's a toast, to all those who hear me all too well.
Here's to the night we felt alive, Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry, Here's to goodbye tomorrows gonna come too soon.
A/N: Hi!!! I'm only doing this A/N thingy to apologize in advance for my crap mole speech. I know it's horrible. That's why there are only about two lines of it throughout the whole story. Heehee!